Jake Paul’s ambitions of a swift return to the boxing ring have been dealt a major setback following his emphatic knockout defeat to former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.
The YouTuber-turned-boxer was stopped in the sixth round of their high-profile bout in Miami, Florida last month after Joshua landed a thunderous right hand that sent Paul crashing to the canvas. The loss marked the most decisive defeat of Paul’s professional boxing career.
Medical examinations conducted after the fight revealed that Paul suffered a double fracture of the jaw. He was hospitalised and underwent surgery that required the insertion of multiple plates to stabilise the injury, forcing an extended recovery period.
Despite the severity of the damage, Paul appeared undeterred in the immediate aftermath, boldly calling out Mexican boxing icon Saul “Canelo” Alvarez from his hospital bed. However, that ambition now looks far from realistic.
On Sunday, the Florida Athletic Commission confirmed that Paul has been slapped with an indefinite suspension, effectively ruling him out of competition until he is medically cleared. The decision eliminates any chance of a short-term comeback and casts uncertainty over his near-term boxing plans.
Paul was among several fighters sanctioned following the Miami event. Former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley received a 30-day suspension after suffering a knockout loss to Anderson Silva. Other fighters handed suspensions include Camilla Panatta and Yokasta Valle, while Justin Cardona was sidelined for 60 days. Diarra Davis Jr was also issued with an indefinite ban after his defeat to Keno Marley.
The setback has further dented Paul’s standing in the sport. He has now lost his World Boxing Association (WBA) cruiserweight ranking, having previously climbed to 14th following his win over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in July. The loss to Joshua has pushed him out of the organisation’s top 15.
While Paul has repeatedly expressed his desire to win a recognised boxing title, his immediate future now depends on recovery timelines, medical clearance and whether he can regain momentum after his first decisive defeat against an elite, active professional boxer.
